Editorial: Public deserves answers in Hamilton-Beverly shootings

This editorial argues the Essex County District Attorney's Office did the right thing when it reversed course and decided to pursue a more aggressive investigation into the shooting of a Beverly Police officer by a Hamilton Police sergeant who subsequently committed suicide.

Wicked Local

Writer

Posted Mar. 1, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Mar 1, 2012 at 1:15 AM

Posted Mar. 1, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Mar 1, 2012 at 1:15 AM

Beverly, Mass.

» Social News

Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett did the right thing when he reversed course on his investigation into the police shooting and suicide last Friday night outside the Starbucks at 29 Enon St. in North Beverly.

Last Friday night Hamilton Police Sgt. Kenneth Nagy and Beverly Police Officer Jason Lantych agreed to meet at the Starbucks. Nagy shot Lantych in the wrist and in the groin and fled in his Saab SUV. Despite a regional search for Nagy, he eluded police and returned to the Starbucks roughly five hours after shooting Lantych and then shot himself while he was inside his SUV.

Monday morning, Blodgett in both public statements and through his office spokesman indicated the investigation was all but over, with only a few “loose ends” to be taken care of and that he wouldn’t be pursuing a motive in the shooting and suicide.

A few hours later, Blodgett’s office issued a clarification, saying the office would be investigating the motive.

“I wish to clarify my earlier statements that motive was ‘not relevant’ to the investigation into the shooting of Beverly Police Officer Jason Lantych and the death of Hamilton Police Sergeant Kenneth Nagy,” Carrie Kimball Monahan, Blodgett’s director of communications, said in a written statement.

“The motive for the shooting is of course relevant to the broader investigation by the Massachusetts State Police, the Hamilton and Beverly Police Departments, and this Office. That investigation remains ongoing and includes inquiry into any and all criminal activity surrounding the incident, though none has been revealed apart from the shooting itself.”

No one wants to wallow in this tragedy or plumb the depths of Nagy’s and Lantych’s personal lives. So we can understand the initial reaction to end the investigation quickly.

There are, however, overriding issues of public safety and concern involved.

The shooting and suicide took place in a busy public place and endangered dozens of people — the two officers couldn’t have chosen a more public place to meet.

The tragedy raises other questions the investigation should explore:

· Did Nagy use his 40-caliber Glock service handgun or his own handgun, for which he had a permit?

· Did Nagy — a 19-year police veteran and by all accounts a popular Hamilton officer — give any warning signs of violent or depressed behavior the Hamilton Police Department failed to see?

· Was there any abuse of the public trust beyond the shootings themselves?

Ultimately, we should all be asking ourselves, “Was this preventable?”

We place great trust in and responsibility with our police officers. It’s a difficult job at best. The District Attorney’s investigation needs to ensure we have the policies and structure in place to support our police officers and ensure they are prepared to accept that trust and execute that responsibility.